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APC tables Verizon/Tower Ventures rezoning after public health concerns, advertising error
Summary
The Decatur County Area Planning Commission tabled APC petition 2025-9 — a request to rezone a 100-by-100-foot compound to allow a 299-foot wireless tower — after residents raised health and property-value concerns and staff discovered an error in the public advertisement.
The Decatur County Area Planning Commission tabled APC petition 2025-9 after public comment raised concerns about radiofrequency emissions and property values and staff found the public advertisement for the hearing had been incorrect.
The petition, submitted by Tower Ventures with Verizon Wireless as an anchor tenant, requested rezoning of roughly a 100-by-100-foot compound from A-1 to A-2 to construct a 299-foot self-supporting wireless tower intended to improve coverage in a gap identified by the applicant. Staff noted the tower height had FAA approval. The parcel is described in the record as owned by Richard Charles Redelman and Kimberly May Redelman and located just west of 247 East County Road 500 South in Marion Township.
Adjacent property owner Jason Russell spoke from the microphone and questioned distance estimates to nearby residences, saying, “I don't necessarily agree that it's a thousand feet,” and raised concerns about long-term radiofrequency exposure, children's health and potential property-value impacts. Russell cited studies and legal challenges to FCC guidelines and urged the commission to consider moving the compound farther from residences; he also provided several studies and documents to staff during his remarks.
Applicant representative John Marsaletti (identified as working with Verizon Wireless and Tower Ventures) described the coverage gap and said the proposed tower would accommodate multiple carriers. Staff and attorneys reviewed the public advertising and concluded the notice had cited an incorrect ordinance subsection; county counsel recommended correcting the advertisement. Missy Scholl, the county attorney present, confirmed the advertisement was incorrect and said staff would correct it and explore alternative placements during a forthcoming technical review.
A motion to table APC petition 2025-9 to the May meeting passed after a short recess and a recommendation that the commission hold a technical review (scheduled for the following Monday) to examine placement and distance issues. The commission recorded the motion to table and will re-advertise the item with the corrected ordinance citation before it returns for further consideration.
